Method for handling and treating tubular fabric bodies



y 1949- M. E. BACHLEDA 2,474,967

METHOD FOR HANDLING AND TREATING TUBULAR FABRIC BODIES Original Filed Oct. 15, 1945 7 43 14 !W,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,W m

Patented July 5, 1949 METHOD FOR HANDLING AND TREATING TUBULAR FABRIC BODIES Matthew E. Bachleda, Chicago, Ill., assignor to William F. Stahl, trustee Original application October 15, 1945, Serial No.

622,453. Divided and this application November 25, 1946, Serial No. 712,060

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a method for handling and treating tubular fabric bodies and cores therefor, and more particularly to the insertion and withdrawal of a helical coil spring core from the body and the treatment of the fabric with the core embedded in the body.

This application constitutes a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 622,453, filed October 15, 1945, for Method for handling and treating tubular fabric body and core therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of treating fabrics such as yarn, and the applying of dyes and the like thereto. Another object is to insert a helical coil spring in a tubular fabric body to act as a core for the body and to remove the core therefrom. Yet another object is to provide a method for dyeing or otherwise treating a tubular fabric body having an embedded coil spring core and for simply and easily changing the position of the core with respect to the body to insert the coil in the body or to remove it therefrom. Still another object is to provide a method for changing the position of a helical coil spring core with respect to a tubular spool of yarn within which the core is adapted to be embedded.

A further object is to change the axial diameter of a helical coil spring in order to permit changes in position of the spring with respect to a. tubular fabric spool wherein the spool is adapted to be embedded as a core.

The invention is illustrated in connection with the apparatus shown in the drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view of a portion of the machine; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a fabric spool, the fabric being partially broken away to show the core of the spool; and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view along the line -55 of Fig. 4.

In the process of dyeing yarn or thread or otherwise treating the same, the yarn or thread may be wound into spools which are tubular in shape and are provided with a core member which supports the tubular :body. The core member is usually in the form of a helical coil spring formed of flat metallic strips which are wound in the form of a helix. The helical coil spring core may be provided with 'a sleeve of fabric which extends about the same and serves as a base for the winding of the yarn about the core. If desired, the yarn may be wound into the form of a spool about any suitable core and 2 then transerred to the coil spring core or the dyeing or other treatment.

In the process of impregnating the yarn or thread with the dye, the tubular spool with the helical coil spring core is compressed or contracted longitudinally in order that the dye may more thoroughly penetrate the windings of the yarn. While this operation assures the thorough dyeing of the yarn, it also causes the sleeve and the yarn windings thereon to be pressed into the convolutions of the coil spring core so that the core becomes embedded in the tubular body.

When the coil spring core is embedded in the tubular fabric body, it is extremely diflicult to remove the body from the core. In the case of yarn, the outer portion of the yarn spool may readily be unwound, but when the windings immediately adjacent the core are approached, it is found that these windings tend to cling or remain clamped to the core. Accordingly, to remove these windings, it is usually necessary to cut the windings which adhere to the core. This operation results in loss of time and in a waste of yarn. Moreover, the coil spring core may be deformed or injured so that it may not be reused.

In accordance with the present invention, a helical coil spring core may be readily inserted into or removed from a tubular fabric body without injuring either the body or the core. Thus, a spool of yarn may be wound in tubular form on any suitable core and then transferred to the helical coil spring core for the dyeing or treating operation. The core in the course of this operation becomes embedded in the fabric or yarn, but is readily removed therefrom. The spool may then be completely unwound without difficulty. If desired, the yarn may be wound upon the coil spring core initially, using a fabric sleeve on the core as a base for the winding operation.

The invention is illustrated in connection with the apparatus shown and described herein.

The apparatus is supported in a frame III, which is preferably of rectangular skeleton form so as to be light and portable. The frame, which may be of any suitable construction, supports journals II and I2 in which is mounted the vertical shaft l3. To the lower end of the vertical shaft 13 is secured a bevel pinion Id. The base Ill of the frame carries a bevel gear segment l5 operable by a treadle 16 to rotate the shaft 13. A spring l1 causes the treadle to return to normal position.

The upper portion Ill of the frame is provided with a pair of plates l8 and I9 between which are the horizontally centered and facing bevel pinions 20 and 2|. A bevel gear 22 carried by the upper portion of the shaft l5 meshes with the pinions and 2| to impart motions in opposite directions to the pinions 20 and 2| when the shaft I8 is rotated.

The bevel pinion 20 is carried by a shaft 22, one end of which is journalled in a bearing I9 carried by the plate I9. The pinion 2|, on the other hand, is carried by the inner end of a sleeve 23 mounted about the shaft 22 for free rotation.10.

with respect thereto. A spacer bushing 22* is mounted on the shaft 22 between the bevel pinions. The shaft 22 projects from the outer: end of the sleeve in the form of a cylindrical headpiece 22* the outer periphery of which is flush,

with the exterior of the sleeve 23.

The coil spring core of the tubular fabric body or yarn spool may be placed on the combined support formed by the sleeve 23 and theheadpiece 22 and the ends of the core are clamped to'these parts respectively. For this purpose, the sleeve 23 is provided with a band which. incorporates a finger 24 pivoted at 24 to the band and adapted to be pressed down by an eccentric cam 24 centered at 24 in the band. The cam is extended upwardly to form a lever 24. Thus, when the final convolution of the spring core is placed under the finger 24', the lever 24 may be drawn forward to securely clamp the same convolution to the sleeve 23.

As the opposite final convolution of the core occurs on the headpiece 22*, a clamp in the form of a finger '25 is provided to secure the same to the headpiece. The finger 25 forms an extension of. a jaw 28 slidable on a cone 2'! extended from the headpiece 22 The cone has a forward continuation in the form of a screw 2'! on which a tubular nut 28 is disposed. Thus, the finger 25 is ordinarily loose in the rear portion of the nut 28, but when the latter is turned by hand to move forward along the jaw 26, the effect is to'force the finger 25 inwardly and thus clamp the corresponding convolution of the core.

The arrangement just described is a familiar one in the common drill brace, except that only one jaw instead of three is employed.

In this manner, the sleeve 23 and the headpiece 22 act as core members, being received within the core of the helical spring and supporting the same by attachment to the ends thereof.:

These core members may be positioned axially of said spring and in alignmentwith each other. In addition, it is preferred that the shaft 22and sleeve 23 be in telescopic relation, as shown.

Figures 4 and 5 show the remaining portion.

of a typical dyed yarn spool, after the greater portion of the yarn has been unwound. The remainder of the yarn is indicated at'30,:the internal fabric sleeve at 31, andthe .spring core atSZ. The space within the latter is sufiicient to amply clear the clamping nut 28, headpieces22 and sleeve 23 as the spool is slid thereon. The core projects from the ends ofthe fabric, exposing the final convolutions of. the core. .Thus,

these are readily arranged under the fingers 24mm) and 25 and clamped as previously described.

When the treadle to is depressed,the.headpiece 22 and the sleeve 23 rotate rapidly in opposite directions. Each of the rotating members turns in a direction to wind the spring. core'.

32 and increase the number of convolutions thereof. Since the end of the spring is mounted in a fixed longitudinal position withrespect to the axis of the spring, the windingofthe spring causes a diametrical contraction of .the.same.

Thus, the number of convolutions of the spring is increased and the axial diameter is decreased. The spring may readily be moved with respect to the tubular spool and withdrawn therefrom.

The release of the treadle l6 automatically reverses the operation of the gearing so that the spring core unwinds and it is restored to its original form and shape. It may now be easily unclamped and slipped off its support. When the cool spring is removed from the tubular .fabric body, the yarn may be unwound and, if desired, may be supported on a rigid core which (actsas a base for the unwinding of the yarn.

In accordance with the invention therefore, .the ends of the helical coil spring are held or amaintained, in fixed longitudinal position with respect to the, axis of the spring, and simultaneously at least one of the ends is rotated with respect to the other in a plane transverse to the axis of the spring. The end is rotated in substantially the same direction as the direction in which the free end of the spring extends, thus winding the spring to increase the number of convolutions thereof. Preferably, both ends of the spring are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions so that the spring is wound from each end. In this event, each of the ends of the spring is rotated in the direction in which the'free end of the spring extends. The number of convolutions of the spring may be increased by only a fraction of a convolution, and when the increase in the number of convolutions is referred to herein, it is meant to include fractional increases.

By means of the invention, numerous difiiculties in the handling and treating of tubular fabric bodies, and particularly yarn spools, are eliminated. All the material is saved for purpose of supply and reuse. The spring core is simply and easily inserted into the tubular spool and withdrawn therefrom, and the method may be carried out quickly, smoothly, safely, and efliciently.

When the spool is first formed in a tubular core of pasteboard or the like, a relatively smooth inner surface is provided. Upon removal of the core and the placing of the spool over a helical coil spring, the spool, along with other spools, is placed, as in the usual practice, upona perforated pipe inside a dye vat, and the spools about the tube are subjected to compression so that they are contracted along their longitudinal axis. This contraction provides a continuous spool area around the perforated tube and with no interstices between the spools. By reason of this compression, the yarn throughout is unifor-m in character under the compression and the entire batch receives a uniform application of dye. After the dyeing operation, the spools are removed'from the tube and dried. If the spring coil is removed from the spool of wool yarn and various other types of yarn, it is found that, upon drying, the yarn retains its resilience and is a better product.

In the practice where the spool is formed by winding upon a coil spring, the yarn tends to set around the coils and thus provides a central portion which clings tightly around the separate coils. When the spool is placed upon the perforated tube and compressed, the coils tend to out into the individual threads about them. On the other hand, when the spring is inserted after removal of the cardboard form, the spring tends azto: contract evenly along the smooth inner surface of the spool in the compression operation and does not destroy the yarn threads, etc.

There are a number of advantages in removing the coil spring before unwinding the spool. The main advantage is in the saving of yarn. The inner part of the spool is matted and tied around the coils and, in the ordinary unwinding operation, the yarn catches and breaks and there is a substantial loss in the remaining material on the spring. Furthermore, in order to reuse the coil spring, it was necessary to saw or cut the yarn and free it from the spring, with the result that not only is material lost but a time-consuming operation required in removing the material. When the spring is removed, the entire spool of yarn can be unwound without the loss of an inch thereof. Another advantage is that often an unwinding and rewinding step can be avoided by virtue of the substitution of a new core. A further advantage, already mentioned, is that some yarns, like wool, shrink while drying, and if the core is reduced in diameter, the material will retain its elasticity. Such shrinking in size of the core is accomplished by removing the coil spring before drying.

When the spring is in normal expanded condition, it extends a short distance beyond the ends of the yarn spool, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 4. The slightly-projecting end coils are therefore readily available for engagement by the clamping members so that the coil can be quickly contracted. Such a structure not only provides an even support for the ends of the yarn spool but, by their protrusion beyond the ends of the spool, the operation of fixing the ends longitudinally and varying the diameter of the spring can be accomplished quickly and thus permit eflicient factory production.

While there are shown and described certain embodiments of the invention it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the method and in the construction and arrangement of the apparatus for carrying out the method may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A method of the character described for dyeing fabrics and the like, comprising providing a helical coil spring and a tubular fabric body of inside diameter at least as small as the external diameter of the spring, increasing the number of convolutions of the spring to contract the axial diameter thereof, inserting the spring within the tubular body, applying dye to the fabric, increasing the number of convolutions of the spring to contract the axial diameter thereof and withdrawing the spring from the tubular body.

2. A process for treating a tubular spool of yarn, comprising contracting a helical coil spring having an outside diameter at least as great as the internal diameter of the spool by increasing the convolutions thereof, drawing said spool over said spring while the same is contracted, releasing the spring to permit it to expand, contracting said spool and said spring longitudinally of their axis and impregnating the same with dye while so contracted, and removing the spring from the spool.

3. A process for treating a tubular spool of yarn, comprising contracting a helical coil spring having an outside diameter at least as great as the internal diameter of the spool by increasing the convolutions thereof, drawing said spool over said spring while the same is contracted, releasing the spring to permit it to expand, compressing said spool and said spring longitudinally of their axis, impregnating with dye the spool while so compressed longitudinally of its axis, releasing said spool and spring from compression, increasing the number of convolutions of the spring to contract the axial diameter thereof, and separating said spring from said spool.

MATTHEW E. BACHLEDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 13,223 Daniell Mar. 28, 1911 1,866,783 White July 12, 1932 2,244,824 Caminez June 10, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 661,567 Germany June 21, 1938 

